Vertonghen continued: “The interest of a beautiful club like FC Barcelona excites me for sure. This is a confirmation that you’re doing well. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, they say, but for the moment there is certainly no fire.”

Reports in the Belgium press confirm that Vertonghen has four years left on his current deal at White Hart Lane and is set to negotiate a new five-year-contract.

Vertonghen added on Belgium radio: “It goes without saying that I would like to stay at Tottenham. My contract extension I consider to be a great sign of confidence.”

The Belgium defender returns to Spurs pre-season training, along with Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli, on Tuesday.